When Ian was wrapping Damon’s hair around his hand, the most ridiculously awkward position belonged to Ruswena’s forces.

Ruswena, while facing trade sanctions from Bariel, had suddenly clashed with their main force. Unable to even advance toward Burgos due to the endless blue waves pouring from the forest, they had to confront Gaia’s great army.

“Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!”

And now, the head of the Ministry of Magic had grabbed the king’s nape? Essentially, the outcome had been decided before they could do anything.

It might be different if there were a suitable successor to replace him in Burgos, but as far as Eripony knew, he was one who firmly maintained absolute monarchy within Burgos.

During the time when Damon’s parents were alive, she had heard rumors that he had quite a few half-siblings, but that was just hearsay, wasn’t it?

Eripony tried her best to examine the gaps between the Burgos soldiers through the telescope Eldert had given her.

“It seems King Damon has been captured.”

How could such a thing happen? Eripony barely swallowed the curses rising in her throat, then surveyed the battlefield where intense fighting was still taking place. No matter how you looked at it, Ruswena and Bariel were clearly confronting each other with hostility.

If I had known this would happen, I would have delayed giving orders just a bit longer! She had tried to strengthen the battle between Burgos and Clifford, but now everything seemed ruined. Eripony wrapped her head in her hands while roughly striking down her bow.

“What would be the best course of action, Eldert? We’ve come too far to speak of friendship with Bariel, but if we continue advancing, Damon’s hair is in Ian’s hands. What would be the best choice?”

“Whatever choice you make, Your Majesty, I will follow your will. However, in my opinion, wouldn’t it be better to retreat and observe the situation? Internal conflict might arise in Burgos, and we still don’t have information about the earthquake. If Bariel questions our responsibility, we could use that point to save face.”

Burgos, or more precisely Damon, had promised a false future in their alliance. If Ruswena could also transform into a victim who fell for this scheme, a significant portion of their responsibility, including war reparations, would be reduced.

Though whether that would work on the strict, old-mannish Ian was another question.

“But what are those things? They said reinforcements would come from the north, but they keep rampaging without reading the situation.”

“They seem to be the Atan tribe.”

“Atan tribe?”

“Yes. That woman with the afro hair is Efdiram, a formerly famous monster hunter. I’ve heard rumors that she awakened as an Atan and travels in groups. For reference, she’s a mage, and her closest confidant is a magic swordsman. They used to operate as a duo in the north, and there’s a rumor that wherever they stay, monster seeds dry up.”

The problem was that they were so rough that no one welcomed them.

Eripony turned her head while nervously nibbling her fingernails. They still had the black armor and mages left. If the Atan tribe continued to rampage, could they somehow continue the war?

Whatever happened, ending like this was the worst among Eripony’s options. A war where they gained nothing from coming. Of course, war is like a game of gambling where you lose everything if defeated, but right now, she felt like she had lost her cards before even getting to play.

In the current situation, moving forward was the most ideal card Eripony could play.

“Eldert. Call the mages.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

First, let’s send the mages again as scouts. This time, she needed someone who would truly fulfill their role without causing a commotion.

The Bariel soldiers crawling and rampaging on the ground could be handled by the mages. They needed to make a decision before the mages from Bariel joined in.

“Mages!”

Jaira turned her head at the soldier’s call.

They were trying to maintain the battle line while waiting for Eripony’s orders. To prevent the blind arrows and spears of Bariel from reaching the feet of the queen. And to minimize casualties among Ruswena soldiers.

“Her Majesty urgently calls for you. She says she needs scouts again.”

Clang! Clang!

Scouts! Jaira, who had been slightly behind among the mages, brightened her eyes. Something must have happened in the battle between Clifford and Burgos.

With Bariel’s main force suddenly rushing in, this was practically a shortcut for Jaira. One that could request support to empty the Ruswena palace and cross over to Bariel.

“Uncle! Let Uncle go!”

Jaira shouted, pulling the shoulder of the man in front of her. And pretending to wish him luck, she pressed her cheek against his and whispered.

“Uncle. Whatever you see on the scouting mission, guide and report that Ruswena’s reinforcements are needed. That means to give hope to Her Majesty. You understand, right? You haven’t forgotten our conversation in the tent?”

If the battle was in a lull, additional forces would be needed for later, and a mage would be assigned to deliver this message as quickly as possible.

Then everything would go smoothly. The mage who returned to Ruswena could take the materials from the encampment and bring the families to Bariel, and the mages remaining here would cross over to the Bariel camp as soon as they heard the news. It was a very simple and easy task. As long as Eripony could have hope in the war!

Jaira’s uncle nodded and followed the soldier, soon disappearing from sight.

“Jaira. What did you say?”

“Uncle understood well.”

Other Ruswena mages anxiously inquired, glancing in that direction. While Jaira’s mind was filled with a very simple and clear plan, others were more complicated due to the stains of time and experience.

What if they don’t dispatch a mage for the message to Ruswena? What if they can’t properly evacuate the families from the palace? What if they’re treated as hostages after crossing to Bariel? Despite all these negative and miscellaneous worries, Jaira was smiling, seemingly pleased about something.

‘If I go to Bariel, I can save Grandmother. I’ll go to the Abyss and personally bring her back. I can do it. Grandmother, please wait a little longer. Please.’

Clang! Clang!

Boom!

Jaira deflected all the arrows pouring toward her with a shield, and that energy scattered across the entire Clifford land, riding the wind.

***

“That’s working.”

One of the mages muttered, leaning against the barrier.

Where had all the wildly rampaging colts gone? The Atan tribe was now gathered nicely together, like they were on an outing. They were enthusiastically discussing something centered around Efdiram, but despite the intense atmosphere, it didn’t seem very substantial.

“I know. The suggestion to talk over a meal is working. These are the same people who were rampaging with swords and bows just a moment ago.”

“Maybe it’s because they’re just trying to make a living?”

“I bet they’re discussing what to eat right now.”

Thanks to Ian jumping in as the leader and grabbing Damon’s nape, peace had settled on the war. Soldiers no longer killed each other; the Burgos people were waiting for their fate, and the Clifford people were waiting to return to their normal lives.

Even the Burgos military force had calmed down for now, but the problem was those Atan tribespeople. What if they decided to continue the war and jumped in?

It would become impossible to predict how movements within Burgos would flow. Perhaps a new leader could seize power in the home country, or as heroes are born in troubled times, someone new might emerge from somewhere in that camp.

“It’s not going to work, so why do they keep charging in like that?”

“That’s their specialty, right? Eating monsters, running around freely as they please. From their perspective, it must be great.”

“It’s meaningless. Futile. With so many mages on our side, once we all recover after some time, they’ll be nothing. Honestly, couldn’t the Imperial Guard handle them? Half of them are ordinary humans anyway.”

“Open the door!”

Amid the mages’ chatter, Efdiram stepped forward to the barrier and shouted. The door slowly opened left and right. She entered the enemy territory majestically, accompanied by one subordinate.

Creeeeak. The mages looked down as she entered, then naturally turned around and descended the stairs. All the Bariel mages gathered to greet Efdiram.

“Where’s the Bariel lapdog?”

“Atan Chieftain. Your speech is extremely unpleasant.”

“Oh, was it? Then where’s that handsome kid?”

“…Call him Minister Ian Hielo. If not, there will be no negotiation through dialogue.”

Handsome kid? Hale faltered momentarily but quickly made threats. Though they didn’t work on Efdiram at all.

“Who are you to decide whether to break up the meeting your superior arranged? Break it up if you want. Just make sure to tell them it’s your side’s problem, not mine. Okay? It’s really annoying when things get misrepresented.”

Efdiram pressed on Hale’s chest repeatedly while laughing. Beric sat on the stair railing, looking down at her with disgust, seemingly unaware that he was facing himself through a third party.

Efdiram briefly surveyed the inside of the barrier as she walked around once, then nodded slightly.

“So, where do I go? Are you going to keep me standing like this? You said we’d eat. Our kids are really hungry after running here on empty stomachs.”

“Suck your fingers!”

“That might fill up a tiny runt like you, but we’re built differently. Red-head. And don’t interrupt when adults are talking.”

“You sound like a real adult! Everyone under a hundred is a friend!”

“Is he really part of the Imperial Guard? He said so himself earlier.”

Judging by his inability to speak, it must be true. Efdiram whistled and clapped her hands.

Had there ever been an Atan tribesperson in the Bariel Imperial Guard? Though it wasn’t a history with deep roots, and so many people passed through like the wind that she couldn’t be certain, as far as she knew, Beric was the first.

Efdiram took out a piece of gum as if to cleanse her palate and chewed it slowly.

“This way.”

“Is your superior okay? His magical power leaking out was no joke. I wonder what was done to the Idgal to cause that.”

As Efdiram curiously muttered while following Hale’s guidance, all the mages stopped in their tracks.

Ian’s condition was indeed not good. Magical power was leaking out as if there was a hole somewhere in his body, and they judged it to be the influence of the Idgal. They believed he would be fine with time—a judgment filled with complacency and, in a way, blind faith.

“What?”

“Why are you all so surprised? You saw the magic formation coming out of the Idgal earlier.”

“…Do you know what that is?”

“Huh? Look at these guys?”

It was Efdiram who was surprised instead. Do these so-called Bariel mages not know this? This is why greenhouse flowers can’t survive. Efdiram clicked her tongue and crossed her arms.

“It’s 「Borrowed Power」.”

Literally, it means accepting a debt. A magic that takes abilities from your future self when you temporarily need strong power or for some other reason.

Efdiram shrugged her shoulders and wondered.

“But I don’t know why it was on the Idgal. And on an Idgal held by the King of Burgos, technically an enemy country. Did the Minister of Magic have some connection in the past?”

At her words, Hale flinched as if he had stepped on his own foot. Hadn’t Ian confessed? That a past version of himself he didn’t know about had created the Idgal.

Efdiram placed her arm around Hale’s shoulder and smiled.

“Whether it’s the Idgal or Damon. Would everyone be surprised if they both had some connection?”